2016 Holiday Gift Guide – Video Games

The holidays have arrive and the EFG staff has combed through the games released over the last year to find the very best gift ideas. Take a look below!

Overwatch

What can I say? Overwatch will likely be my game of the year this year.

Overwatch is a shooter, so parents who aren’t interested in that kind of experience should avoid it for now. But, if you are looking for a way to scratch your kids shooter itch without buying them an ultraviolent Call of Duty or Battlefield game, then this is a great option.

Pokemon Sun/ Pokemon Moon

I am pretty sure that I am contractually obligated to include a Pokemon game on all of my holiday gift lists. But, I would regardless because they are immensely popular, relatively inexpensive, and awesome experiences. This year is unique because we have two brand new Pokemon games in Sun and Moon, but even older games like X and Y, or Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are acceptable too if you are buying for younger players.

NBA 2k17

NBA2k17 is not just an amazing sports title. It is also one of the more interesting roleplaying game experiences that I have had in years.

The single player campaign mode puts players in control of a baller named Prez as he enters the NBA and develops his skills. The control you have over his social media presence, his peer relationships, his schedule, and even his workouts are astonishing. This is an experience NBA fans can’t afford to miss.

Skylanders Imaginators

Disney Infinity is gone and LEGO Dimensions is focusing on releasing adventure packs this year. This leaves Skylanders to stand atop the heap with the only major Toys to Life release this year. Players are given the power to create their own dream character in this installment of the , now, venerable franchise.

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens

This year’s LEGO Star Wars game was excellent and it is a great way to help experience some of the great moments from The Force Awakens as we get ever closer to episode XIII.

My favorite part of LEGO Star Wars: TFA is that it tells stories that weren’t in the original film. For example, it includes a story about how C-3PO ended up with a red arm.

Ratchet and Clank

This is a shot by shot remake of the PS2 era game of the same name. The difference is that this iteration has been built form the ground up using modern graphics and is all the more gorgeous because of it.

Dragon Quest: Builders

Dragon Quest is a storied RPG franchise from Japan. That made it all the more odd to see them mix up the Dragon Quest world and art style with Minecraft style block-building gameplay. It, honestly, felt like a bizarre cash grab when it was announced, but that has all changed since the game was released.

Dragon Quest: Builders is the real deal and is a light RPG that features building mechanics that will be immediately familiar to anyone who has played Minecraft at all.

Minecraft

No. Really. If you are buying gifts for a child in your life and they don’t own Minecraft, then this is almost a no brainer. It is available on just about every system imaginable now. I know that this isn’t exactly a “new” game, but it is all but a slam dunk for people looking for a gift for a younger kid just getting into gaming.